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As Accountants and Business Advisors we have the opportunity to work with and consult to a wide range of diverse family business. One of the most challenging aspects of being a family business consultant is when conflict exists between members in the family group.
Conflict can arise in many types of relationships including between spouses, parent and sibling or between siblings to name a few. The potential for conflict expands as the number of relationships within the family group expands. Consider that a family of four has six different relationships whereas a family of six has 15 different relationships. When you factor in that some of these relationships span more than two generations, it is understandable that things can at times become somewhat confrontational. In-laws or family members that are not direct blood line add another dimension again.
In the context of a family business the range of issues that may give rise to a potential conflict expand due to the fact that family members are often employed within the family business. As a result we not only have the potential for conflict related to purely family matters but the added complication where there may be conflict in relation to the work environment also. This situation is obviously unique to family business and as such it poses even greater challenges for not only the family involved but also for us as advisors.
In our experience there are a number of things that you should remember:
In our experience conflict can be prevented, managed or resolved in the family business through a number of processes including:
At Altitude Advisory we have had extensive experience in dealing with these issues. If you are concerned about conflict in your family business or if you wish to prevent potential issues from arising in the future, we can assist you with:
Please contact Altitude Advisory for more information.
"Altitude Advisory works with us to find ways to improve our business unlike accountants we have used in the past who were only interested in taking the figures and doing our tax. They're always approachable and call us for a chat which shows us they're truly interested in our business."
Kerri Stutley, Tumby Bay Foodland